The famous Granny’s Attic sales at St Columba’s United Reform Church on Northumberland Square are a thing to behold. Norma McAvoy, trustee, explains: “It all started as just a white elephant stall in the flats next door.” The event grew along with its popularity and now occupies the whole church hall, with stalls selling clothes, shoes and bags, jewellery and fancy goods, household and bric-à-brac, books, records and DVDs, toys, curtains and bedding. Get there early if you want the best buys as people were reportedly queuing along the street to get in when it was last held in November!
There used to be two Granny’s Attic sales a year, in spring and autumn, but last year an additional summer sale was held, which was a great success: “It’s amazing,” says Norma, “they all swarm in! The hall is always packed with stuff.” So where does it all come from? When I ask how the church appeals for donations, Norma claims: “We don’t need to advertise. People just keep bringing things. It’s all through word of mouth.” There are definitely bargains to be had: “It’s cheaper than the second-hand shops,” Norma proudly states, “we had some fabulous winter coats at a pound each last time!” Some valuable antiques are often on sale, and they sometimes get professional dealers turning up. Perhaps that is why people started voluntarily paying a 20p entry fee even though it wasn’t originally required. The charity shops are not missing out, either. Afterwards, all the leftover items are arranged in a tidy order at the bottom of the hall to be collected by St Oswald’s Hospice. Other charitable causes chosen by the church also benefit from the profits, such as Tynemouth Volunteer Life Brigade, which was nominated last year.
As well as the Granny’s Attic sales, St Columba’s is a popular warm stop during the annual North Shields Christmas Market, with special exhibitions in the church building and unique handmade gifts and cards for sale alongside delicious refreshments served on vintage china tea sets in the hall. Freshly made affordable meals are also available in the church hall all year round every Tuesday from 10:30am to 1:30pm at Cafe 2.21. There is a Saturday coffee morning run by the HANDS (Here And Now Doing Something) ladies’ group and ‘Early Bird’ breakfasts are provided to those in need from 7 to 9am every Sunday morning. Other regular activities held at St Columba’s include the Parents & Toddlers group on Wednesdays and ‘Messy Church’ arts and crafts sessions on Sundays every six weeks. Their main worship service is every Sunday from 10:30am to 11:30am followed by tea and coffee in the hall. There is a second service from 6:30pm to 7:30pm on the last Sunday evening of the month.
There will be extra events this year to mark the 800th anniversary of North Shields, since St Columba’s roots in the town can be traced back as far as the 17th Century through seven local churches of different denominations, with a combined history of almost 1000 years. The current building on Northumberland Square designed by John Dobson was first used by the congregation of the United Presbyterian Church in 1857. In 1929 the Square Building Trust was set up by Rowland Lishman, elder of the church and local philanthropist, to build low-cost housing for poor tenants. The trust maintains links with the church to this day and this will be explored in a summer exhibition to celebrate NS800, with the theme of past, present and future. This will be in conjunction with St Columba’s Strawberry Fayre on 7th June, the same day as the YMCA’s Picnic in the Park event in Northumberland Square. After viewing the exhibition in the beautiful church interior you will be able to move through to the hall to sample refreshments including scones, strawberries and tray bakes.
Talking about the teas brings Norma back to a treasured item she purchased at one of the Granny’s Attic sales, an exquisite old set of crockery: “I couldn’t take my eyes off it. I needed another tea set like a hole in the head, but I decided to buy it so that it could still be used and enjoyed. It inspired me to start hosting afternoon teas in my home for groups of friends. They love it!”
This year’s Granny’s Attic sales will be held on 26th April, 9th August and 1st November at St Columba’s U.R.C Church Hall, Northumberland Square. Get along and grab a bargain!
To find out more about what’s on at St Columba’s, go to: https://northshieldsurc.org.uk
